EVs now rival in lifespan to petrol and diesel cars, UK study finds

Еlectric vehicles seem to no longer be the underdogs in the reliability race. A groundbreaking study reveals that modern battery-powered cars now last just as long as their petrol and diesel counterparts, marking a major milestone for sustainable transportation.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham crunched the numbers on nearly 300 million UK Ministry of Transport (MOT) test records spanning 17 years to determine how vehicles of different types age on British roads. The result? Today’s electric cars are not just catching up – they’re speeding past.

Early EVs may have struggled with reliability, but recent advancements in technology have turned the tables. The study, published in Nature Energy, found that newer BEVs boast an average lifespan of 18.4 years on average (18.7 years for petrol cars and 16.3 years for diesel cars), with the ability to rack up 124,000 miles before calling it quits. That’s better mileage than the typical petrol car, which clocks 116,000 miles on average before it dies. Diesel cars, on average, survive 254,000 miles. 

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The secret sauce? Rapid improvements in BEV reliability. Researchers discovered a 12 per cent lower likelihood of failure for each year of production, far outpacing the reliability gains of traditional petrol (6.7 per cent) and diesel vehicles (1.9 per cent). Tesla took the top spot for electric vehicle longevity, while Audi and Skoda led the pack for petrol and diesel cars, respectively.

“This isn’t just about EVs becoming mainstream – it’s about them becoming dependable, long-term options for everyone,” said Dr. Viet Nguyen-Tien of the London School of Economics, one of the study’s co-authors.

Robert Elliott, a professor of economics at the University of Birmingham, highlighted the environmental upside. “Long-lasting BEVs quickly offset their initial carbon footprint, especially as Europe’s energy grid shifts toward renewables. This makes them a critical piece in the fight against climate change,” he said.

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